Education and its impact on social capital and health – Welcome

1. Education and its impact on social capital and health – Welcome Dr. Dirk Van Damme Head of CERI – OECD/EDU

2. Education’s economic benefits… • The concept of human capital has driven OECD’s interest in education • CERI was established in 1968 • Public and private returns on investment in education remain high • Even in the current crisis • Investing in knowledge, skills and competences remains a crucial strategy for economic recovery and to prepare th 21st century economy Education, Social Capital and Health Conference

3. But that’s not the full story • Outcomes of learning are impacting on many other domains of social life than economic success, employment and income • Education has probably become the main determinant of societal opportunities in contemporary societies • Concept of ‘social capital’ Education, Social Capital and Health Conference

4. Social progress • Hence, education can be an important driver of societal progress • But education’s impact and meritocracy also can be new sources of inequity and social problems • Inequity and lack of efficiency in education systems generate the ‘new social question’ • Education may also produce negative social effects (e.g. undesired health behaviour) Education, Social Capital and Health Conference

5. The Research Agenda • Exploring the non-economic impact of education and learning • Knowledge and skills influencing behaviour, lifestyles and attitudes • Finding evidence to establish the causal links between education and social capital • Methodological issues • Demonstrating how improving efficiency and equity in learning outcomes can promote social progress Education, Social Capital and Health Conference

6. The Policy Agenda • Increasing political interest in non-economic drivers of social progress • Fostering social cohesion is major political objective in many OECD member states • “Stronger, Fairer and Greener” • Stiglitz-Sen Commission on Measuring well-being and social progress and subsequent OECD Agenda • Pittsburgh G20 Meeting in September 2009: strong political interest in social consequences of the economic crisis Education, Social Capital and Health Conference

7. CERI’s SOL Project • Social Outcomes of Learning • Started in 2005 to explore the available evidence of the impact of education on • Health: health issues are major political concern • Civic and social engagement: related to social cohesion and good functioning of political democracy • First conceptual face: • OECD (2007), Understanding the social outcomes of learning. • Second empirical phase Education, Social Capital and Health Conference

8. CERI’s SOL Project Indicator of social outcomes of education now included in Education at a Glance SOL work will feature prominently in the 2010 Ministerial EDPC meeting on ‘Investing in Human and Social Capital: new challenges’ SOL work will provide input to OECD work on measuring social progress Hopefully next phase in CERI’s work programme 2011-12 Education, Social Capital and Health Conference

9. Objectives • Assessing the evidence base • CERI’s SOL project • WHO’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health and WHO/Health Scotland work • Health Behaviour in School-Age Children • Exploring the relevance for policy development • Available policy options • Inter-sectoral dialogue and ‘whole-of-government’ policy approaches Education, Social Capital and Health Conference

10. Thank you ! The Norwegian Ministry of Education & Research WHO, HBSC and other partners Tom Schuller & Koji Miyamoto Education, Social Capital and Health Conference